Fire-extinguisher.



G. T. PEARSONS.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER,

APPLlCATiON FILED WAY 5, i916.

Patente Feb. 6,1917,

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. UNITED GEORGE u,- rnlmsous, (ms-NEW YORK, NJY, I

rIRE-nxrIueUIsHER;

Application filed Mays, 1916. Serial No. 95,523.

carbon tetrachlorid, is discharged from a reservoir by an. expelling agent or gas generated in the reservoir, the production of such gasibeing the reaction betweensmtable materials, such as .b1c: 1 rbonate or soda and sulfuric or hydrochloric acid, normally maintained in a separated condition within the reservoir, and one of said materials,

preferably the acid, beinglcontained in a 'fragile receptacle which may be readily ruptured or broken, and when-it is desi d to utilize the extinguisher such receptac is broken causing the gas generating materials to. mix and generate gas and the eX- p'ansive force of such gas expelling the liquid from the reservoir; and it is the primaryvobject of the present invention to simplify and improve the general construc- 'tion of extinguishers of this character to thereby cheapen the cost of manufacture and increa 'the 'efiiciency there0f..

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means tohold the gas 'generating'materials in a s .parated condition in the reservoir and such materials with.

the reacting mixture free from the liquid in thetank. f t

A further object ofthe nve'ntion is to provide improved means to support the acid, carrier and to rupture orvbreak said "carrier to cause it toi'mixgas generating-material. i, 1 g In", extinguishers of this type the fire ex t-in'guishing liquid is of such a nature that 'it will not in ure or mar articles, such as with the other :wearing apparel, furniture and draperies,

orlcorrode metal, with which it may come in contact, while the materials the reaction of the mixing'of which constitutes the expellingagent are of such a nature that the'yfwill injure and ruin such articles as wearing apparel, furniture or draper es Specification hf Letters meat.

Patented Feb. 6, 19m.

and quickly corrode metallic parts with which'they mayeome in contact It very often happens that a part of said gas generating, materials is carried off with the generated gas and expelled with the fire extinguishing liquid with the above deleterious results.

It is a further object of the invention to, provide means to render the expelling agent or gas anhydrous or dry and nonacid before it is utilized to expel the fire extinguishing liquid.'

Other objects and advantages will here inafter appear. I

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, there is shown across sectional elevational view of a fire extinguisher illustrating an embddi- -ment ofmy invention.

In the embodiment oi my invention shown. in the drawing a fire extinguishing liquid, suchjas carbon tetrachlorid, is contained in a reservoir or tank consisting of a body portion 2, preferably cylindrical in shape, closed at one end, as at 3, to consti- I tute the bottom and construbted to form a supporting base for the extinguisher. In

the upper end there is a head i having a central openiug closed by a removable rmver' 5. Secured n an opening in the head c0m.

muni eating with the exterior of-the reservoir-is a discharge tube ,6, the said tube-extendingto' ad acent the bottom of the resersir ."voir withnsuch end closed by-a' check valve "closing into and opening outward from the reservoir, as shown at 7. Communieatio to the exterior of the reservoir through said tube may be shut off byfafivalve 8 connected to the tube 6 by a fitting Q and to which valve is connected the usual. flexible nozzle tipped hose 10.

One of the gas generating materials, fsu'ch' fgs as bicarbonate of soda, is carried in me ceptacletli'l whichflhfls screw threaded'connection, as as 12-, with external screw threa'ds on a depending annular flange 1'1 ofthe cover to removably connect thesame thereto, and whereby the cover serves to 7 close the upper end of the receptacle. The other gas generatingnmaterial, such as sulfuric or h d Qchloric acid? is carried in a I fragile recep acle 1e, sizch esg gass bottle.

This receptacle has a filler opening or neck which is adapted to have a suitable closure and seal, as shown at 15, a composition of glycerin and litharge having been found to answer the purpose. The receptacle has a restricted bottom and an annular contracted and thinned portion adjacent the bottom which is substantially of 'V-shape in cross section, as shown at 16, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The receptacle 11 is carried suspended within the first receptacle 13 by a tubular member or receptacle 17 having screw threaded connection with internal screw threads on the depending flange 11 of the cover 5, as at 18, to removably connect the same thereto. The end of this member opposite to where it is connected to the cover flange, or the bottom 19, inclines downward from the walls to the center as shown, and has a central perforation 20 and may have a plurality of additional perforations laterally of said central perforation. It will be noted that the receptacle 1 rests or is supported upon the bottom 19 at or adjacent the lateral edges of the bottom only.

The agent or gas to expel the liquid from the reservoir is produced by the reaction of the mixing of the acid in the receptacle 14 with the bicarbonate of soda in the receptacle 13, and to free the acid from the receptacle 1% means are provided to rupture orbreak said receptacle. For this purpose there is provided a plunger 21 having a head 22 substantially of the same diameter as the receptacle 17, which head abuts against the bottlel. A second plunger 23 passes through the cover and has screw threaded connection therewith, preferably of a steep pitch, as at-24, and also passing through stufiing boxes 25 and 26, carried at the ex terior and interior of the cover, the said plunger at the outer end having an operating handle or hand-grip 27 to operate the plunger from the exterior of the reservoir. The inner end of saidplunger cooperates with the plunger 21, as at 28, and as the plunger 23 is moved inward it will engage with said plunger 21 and force the head 22 against the bottle exerting a pressure on the latter, and this pressure on the bottle by the engagementof the bottom of the bottle with the bottom 19 of the carrier for said bottle will cause the bottle to be broken or ruptured at the annular thinned recessed portion 16, freeing the contents of the bottle, which will drip gradually through the openings 20 in the bottom of the bottle carrier 17 onto the material in the receptacle 13 immediately generating gas. This gas passes up through the openings 20 and perforations 29 in the plunger head 22, and through an outlet or outlets 30 in the depending annular flange 11 of the cover leading late the reservoir where the expansive force of said gas exerted on the liquid therein will cause said liquid to unseat the valve 7 in the outlet tube 6 and forcibly eject the liquid through said tube and through the connected hose 10, it being understood of course that the valve 8 is opened when the extinguisher is to be used. The outlets 30 are provided with spring influenced check valves 31 opening into and closing outward from the reservolr whereby the gas generating materials and the reacting mixtures are maintained free from the liquid in the reservoir.

As stated the fire extinguishing liquid is of such a nature that it will not injure articles, such as wearing apparel, furniture, draperies and the like, or corrode metal, with which it may come in contact, whereas the nature of the gas generating materials is such as to destroy and ruin any such articles and corrode metallic articles with which it may come in contact, and it very often happens that parts of the gas generating materials are carried off with the generated gas into the reservoir and expelled with the fire extinguishing liquid with the above deleterious results. To prevent this contingency means are provided to render the generated gas anhydrous or dry and non-acid by filtering the generated gas. For this pur ose I provide'a material through which t e generated gas passes to absorb any moisture in said gas, sodium carbonate having been found to answer the urpose. This absorbin material is loca in the carrier 17 for t e acid bottle above the plunger head 22, as shown at 32, the said head preventing this material from dropping into the reacting mixture, and the material is held in compact condition by a disk screen or perforated disk 33, this screen also reventing the generated gas from expelling any of the absorbing material through the outlets 30 and from choging said outlets.

From the foregoing an as shown in the drawing it will be noted that the parts carryin the gas generating materials and the gas ltering material, which is in the nature of a generator, are carried by the cover 5 and are removable from the reservoir with said cover, thus facilitating the removal of said parts -forcleaning or otherwise, and for recharging. By locating the outlets 80 in the annular. depending flange of the cover these, outletr with the valves thereto may 'be readily examined and cleaned or others should a fire be extinguished before all of 40 4 flof a reservoir-for a fire extinguishing liqthe contents of the reservoir have been exclaim:

pelled, and to ,prevent the expelling of the remainder of such-contents in the reservoir.

For this purpose the cap or plug has a port 34 extending axially thereinto and then extending laterally with the outlet in the side of the plug, which Outlet is normally closed by theengagement of the plug or cap, withthe threaded wall of the opening. Should it be desired to relievethe gas pressure in the reservoir it is only necessary to slightly 1 Having thus described my invention I 1. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir fona fire extinguishmg liqu'id having a discharge outlet and an open-- 1ng therein; a removable cover for said opening; a receptacle for a gas generating material carried bvthe c over suspended .the reservoir and with which the cover oooperates to provide a closed receptacle hav- -1iIig an outlet leading into the reservolr; a

second receptacle for a. gas generating material in-the' first receptacle; a carrier for .the'latter receptacle; '-=a plunger to abut aga inst-said secondreceptacle; and'a pluneger; passing through} and ,having screw -.Ithreaded connection with the' cover with means to'operate thesameexterior of thereservoir. to haveimo'vement into .the car- ,rier for the second receptacle and adapted to coiijperate. with the plunger abutting against the secondr eceptacle .to rupture thelatter, substantially as and for the pur- '2, -In a fire extinguisher, the: combination uid having adischarg'e outlet and an openin'g therein; a removable. cover for said opening a receptacle for a gas generating the reservoir and with which the cover 00- mznzerial carried by the cover suspended in operatesto provide a closedreceptaclepa .Val-ved outlet from said receptacle leading 5 inothe reservoir; a receptacle of fragile in terial for anotherfgas generating mate-- rial; -a tubularcarrier for said receptacle of aresefvoir for a fire extinguishing liquid pe'n'ded in the first receptacle, and having to carry said'receptacle 'from' the cover susan-opening in the bottom to connect it with thefirst-receptacle; and a plunger carried by the cover operable from the exterior thereofto "rupture said fragile receptacle,

ing m 5 depen ing annular flange; a

' tacle with the receptacle for a gas generating material connected to the depending flange-of thecoverto spend s id re'ceptaclein the res-' ervoir and with-which the cover cooperates I to provide a closed receptacle; valved outlets in the depending flange of the cover lead-- ing into 'the reservoir; a second receptacle connected to the depending flange of the cover to suspend said receptacle in the first:

receptacle with the bottom of said second receptacle at some distance above the bottom of the first receptacle and havingan opening in thebottom to connect the two recepceptacle; a plunger normally abutting against said fragile receptacle; and means passing throughthe cover operable from the exterior-of the receptacle-to coiiperate with said plunger to rupture the i'ragile receptacle, substantially as and for the pur-ipose specified.

4. In a fire extinguisher. the combination of a reservoir fora fire extinguishing liquid having a discharge outlet and an opening "therein; a removable cover forsaid opening internal and external screw threads; are

,90' having an annular depending flange with v ceptacle for a gas generating material having screw threaded connection with the ex ternal threads of the cover flange to suspend said receptacle in the reservoir. and

with which the cover, cooperates provide a ,closed receptacle; valves in said cover flange. opening into and closlng out from the reservoir; a second receptacle having screw threaded connection with the 1nternal screw threads of the cover'flange to suspendsaid receptacle in the first recepbottom at some distance above the bottom of the first receptacle the bottom of te secbnd receptacle inclining,

downward from the wallsto the center and having openings therein; a fragile receptacle for a gasge nerating "material support.- 4

ed in said secondreceptacle; and means including apart passing through the cover and operable from the exterior of the reser-' 'voir to rupture'said fragile receptacle, substantially: as and for a the purpose specified. Ina fire extinguisher, the combination pended in the first receptacle; and means including a part passing through the cover therein; a removable cover for said opening; a receptacle for a gas generating material suspended in the reservoir and having an outlet leading into the reservoir; a fragile receptacle for another gas generating material; means to support and suspend said fragile receptacle in the first receptacle; means operable from the exterior of the reservoir to rupture said fragile receptacle; and means to filter the generated gas before it is expelled into the reservoir, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir for a fire extinguishing liquid having a discharge outlet and an opening therein; a removable cover for said opening; a receptacle for a gas generating ma terial connected to the cover to be suspended thereby in the reservoir and having an outlet leading .into the reservoir; a fragile receptacle for another gas generating material;-means to support and suspend said fragile receptacle from the cover in the first receptacle; a plunger operable from the exterior of the reservoir to rupture said fragile receptacle; and a third material in the support for the fragile receptacle through which the generated gas is passed before it is expelled into the reservoir to render the gas anhydrous, substantially as and for the pa specified.

In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir for a fire extinguishing liquid having a discharge outlet and an opening therein; a remova le cover for said opening;

, a receptacle for a gas generating material a plungler having a perforateii connected to the cover to be suspended thereby in the reservoir and having an outlet leading into the reservoir; a fragile receptacle for another gas generating material; a tubular carrier for he fragile receptacle connected to the co er to suspend.

the fragile receptacle in the first receptacle;

head of substantia y thesame diameter as the carrier for the fragile receptacle to engage with and rupture sa1d fra ile receptacle; and means in the carrier or the fragile receptacle above the plunger head through which the generated gas 15 passed to render the gas non-acid and dry before it passes into the reservoir to be utilized as the expelling agent for the liquid in the reservoir, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a fire extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir for a fire extinguishing liquid having a discharge outlet and an opening therein; a remova cover for said opening; a receptacle for a gas generating material connected to the cover to be suspended thereby in the reservoir and having an outlet leadin into the reservoir; a fragile receptacle or another gas generating material; a tubular carrier for the fragile receptacle connected to the cover to suspend said receptacle in the first receptacle; a plunger having a perforated head of substantially the same diameter as the carrier for the fragile geceptacle to enga with and rupture said receptacle; a per orated disk carried by the flange and spaced from the head; and a material confined between said head and disk through which the generated gas passes to render the gas dry before it passes into the reservoir to be utilized as the expelling agent for the liquid therein, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a fire extinguisher, the combi tion of a reservoir for a fire extinguishi g liquid having a discharge outlet and a3 opening therein; a removable cover for sai opening; a receptacle for a gas generating material connected to the cover to be sus; pended thereby in the reservoir and having receptacle connected to the cover to suspend said receptacle in the first receptacle; a plunger having a perforated head of substantially the same diameter as the carrier for the. fragile receptacle to engage with the fragile receptacle; a perforated di'sk carried by said plunger spaced from the head; a

second plunger passing through and having threaded connection with the cover and operable from the exterior of the reservoir to cooperate with the first plunger to rupture the fragile receptacle; and a material confined between the head and disk of the first plunger through which the generated gas is assed to render the as anhydrous or dry fore it asses into t e reservoir to be utilized as t e expelling agent for the liquid therein, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a fire'extinguisher, the combination of a reservoir'for a fire extinguishing liquid having a discharge outlet; a receptacle for a gas generating material in said reservoir having an outlet leading into the reservoir; a fragile receptacle for another gas generating material supported in the first receptacle; means operable from the exterior of of av resen uil for a fire extinguishing liquid having a discharge outlet and an opening therein; a removable cover for said'opening; a receptacle for ages generating material suspended in the reservoirend having an I outlet leadmg into the reserveir; a. frp-glle receptacle for amther gas generating matenal. said receptacle having-an annular confiracted and thinned portion adjacent the bottom; means to support said fragile receptacle in the first receptacle; and means including a part passing through the sewer and operable from the exterior of the reservoir to rupture said fragile receptacle, substentiallv as and for the purpose specified.

' GEO. T. PEARSONS. 

